To be successful in writing apps which leverage Media Center Markup Language you will want to make sure you have the following, in order of installation:
My advice is to read the SDK from start to finish before ever launching an integrated design environment. :-)
However, if time is a constraint...
- Read the following topic (including all child nodes) in the SDK documentation: Working with Media Center Markup Language.
- Walk through all of the MCML Sampler examples available in Windows Media Center at Online Media > Program Library > MCML Sampler.
- Review the markup for MCML Sampler located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Media Center\v5.0\Samples\Windows Media Center Presentation Layer Samples\McmlSampler\Markup\.
- Learn how to use the MCML Preview Tool (see http://blog.mediacentersandbox.com/UserInterfaceDevelopmentWithTheMCMLPreviewToolMCMLPad.aspx).
For those of you whose learning style is to dive right in and start coding get the Step By Step draft from http://discuss.mediacentersandbox.com/forums/thread/2618.aspx.
Charlie Owen (Microsoft)